This big 100+ meter rock was first spotted April 9. It has been watched over 2 weeks with only 17 observations by Spacewatch, Pan-STARRS and Table Mountain. It appears to be heading for a close approach of ~3LD on ~June 12. For me, it will be out of range (16th mag). It also will have poor observing conditions as either moonlight, twilight, or daylight. Also, its phase % is poor. Thought it might be of interest to some for its size alone and recent discovery. Speed at close approach ~85"/sec moving thru Cepheus in the early morning hours of June 12.

Hi MP Hunters,

The recently discovered NEO 2022 HB1 is predicted to reach peak brightness of 15.9 magnitude ~1600 EDT on April 26 when it will be in Pyxis . It's going to be a fast mover. Here's a ST4v Interactive Atlas (IA) chart showing the predicted motion from Brisbane, AU: [attachment=2332]

It won't be quite as bright while in Crater at 16.4 magnitude, but it will be dark. Morning twilight interferes for locations further east, sorry George.

Good luck & clear skies,

Phil S.

I have been unable to simulate this image taken by Hubble of the shadow of Ganymede transiting the GRS.
What do I need to do different than normal settings?

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/...-here.html

On the Australian Astronomy Forum “Ice In Space” a forum member has posted that Iapetus will transit Saturn for the first time in 15 years. The event will start at around 4am (EST) on April 30 and continue until dawn, as viewed from Australia. (UT 29-04-2022 1800)

However, when I look at this event in SkyTools 4, location Brisbane, the transit is shown in daylight at around 11:40am on April 30th (EST) (UT 30-04-2022 0140)?

Some replies to the post appear to confirm the 4:00am time using other planetarium programs?

Can anyone suggest a method of how I can verify the “truth”?

Thanks

Dennis


   

I have never seen this happen before, but when I imported one of the Texas Star Party observing lists (.stx file), all of the Rise/Transit/Set and Begin/Best/End times are all wrong. They are not even close. I have checked my location settings, time zone, etc., but I must be missing something here. Most of the Begin/Best/End times are all during the day. Any idea what is causing this? I have SkyTools 4 Visual Standard.

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This huge rock (1.8Km) passes just 10LD out the last week of May. It will spend 3 days hovering around 11-12 magnitude. Best view for me falls on the late night of May 24th when this rock is fairly high in Virgo, moving ~1/2°/hr. Closest approach comes for my location when the rock is 71° below my southeast horizon while mag 12 at 14:25UT on May 27th. Southern guys take note.

This large (1/3 mile) Aten Potentially Hazardous Asteroid from my location, does not get high enough to trip my wire. For those in the southern hemisphere, it gets high when close and bright (mid 13s). From Sydney, May 7 to 10, it will track through southern Scorpius, thru Norma and into Lupus moving just under 1/2°/hour while remaining in the mag 13s. It remains about 15LD out and just outside our orbit. Good hunting.

Is there a way to convert a comma delimited text list (or spreadsheet or other non-stx file) into an .stx file for import to SkyTools 4 Visual? I have a list of 114 objects in a spreadsheet that I would like to use to create an observing program list and I am a bit daunted by the prospect of entering objects one at a time.

Craig Lamison

The recently discovered NEO 2022 HB is predicted to reach 16.2 magnitude as it passes through Boötes on the nights of Apr 20-23. Here is a ST4v Interactive Atlas chart showing the predicted path: [attachment=2328]

It's predicted to be moving at ~32"/min on the morning of Apr 21, but will slow as it recedes from close approach of 0.03 AU.

Two other objects 2022 HA & 2022 HC were detected after close approach, but both only reached peak estimated brightness of 16.7 magnitude. Close , but no cigar 

Good hunting,

Phil S.

Hi MP Hunters,

Here's another object for the southern hemisphere. While it won't be especially bright or fast-moving, it should be observable from the southern hemisphere. Unfortunately, during the closest approach it's predicted to be in conjunction with the sun, but after close approach, it should be visible at ~15.8 magnitude in Phoenix on May 2. Here's a ST4v Interactive Atlas (IA) chart showing the predicted path from Aukland, NZ: [attachment=2325]

Here's the Object Information: [attachment=2326]

This MP should be visible for several days, weather permitting of course.

Good luck,

Phil S.